The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-04-16

or the passengers VINO bore cNlutnt
tokens Of responsibility. From their
conversation enough could be CLEANED
to convince one that they were bound
for the west i'm the hope of increasing
their worldly possessions In mining
and spcculations. That they possessed
little beyond what they carried with
them none could doubt. and If there
had been one IL would have been re-
solved into certainty, when, in a
general way, they began taking stock
OF their personal effects.
After each had enumerated his be-
longings and settled comfortably into
their respective seats, one OF their
number venturad 70 question the i'll
favored man as 10 what his lay in the
west might be.
"Oh, my business" said he, sis that
Of speculator. My stock in trade Is in
my belt,' and he significantly touched
the handles of two large navy re-
volvers.
This reply did not serve to place the
passengers wholly at their ease, and
all felt relieved when. on the fifth day
of their journey, and only about forty
miles from st. Louis (having made
extra time by driving long hours), he
called to Barnaby and said:
any man, will get down here My
road lies over yon and I'll take the
nearest way; but I'll see you again.
Good-day, gentlemen" and whirling
upon his heel, before Barnaby could
recover from his surprise enough to
make reply, he disappeared in some
thick bushes that lined the road
side
Revolving In his mind the strange
passengers conduct, Barnaby became
more than ever convinced that some
thing was wrong.
"Now. | wonder who that dunn
skunk is" he soliloquized as he drove
onward. "There's been so many OF
them cussed agents about hyar lately
that We kant tell an honest man when
We see him. Like rs not thar'll be
trouble Fore can cit 10 Saint Louey.
But III be ready for EN-, and if they
stops mo somethin' is goin' to drop,
sure"
About nightfall the last station was
reached Horses were changed, rough
refreshments secured. and away they
ratified at brisk pace for SC. Louis.
When darkness had fully settled down
Barnaby pulled up his horses and jump
out, called the men from the coach and
said:
Scents, believe that Teller we left
back thar means mischief. Down hyar
about ten miles Is Murdock's gap, a
hard place, and more'n one stage has
been stopped thar. I've got the mail
on board, and she am goin through;
besides, thar's the weemin, and If them
road agents gifts hands on them they'll
handle 'em rough. Have your guns
ready, and If they try TO stop us, give
il to 'em rough, and don't blame me If
we don't git TO 81 Louis tonight
With this he again mounted the box
and drove on. Some OF the passengers
pooh-poohed the idea, while others
seemed 60 believe there might be
something in what the driver said.
But il did seem impossible that an at
tack would be made on eight men, all
well armed, and bluff young fellow
exclaimed i'm confident voice:
"I'll bet an even hundred there isn't
a road agent on the route tonight, and
even if there was they wouldn't stop
US
'Don't be too sure, young man." re-
marked an elderly gentleman, whose
dress and demeanor denoted contact
with the rough edges OF the world
III have known bigger loads than this
10 be held up by one man. for one
don't feel disposed 10 slight the drivers
warming" and he looked TO the loads
i'm his revolvers. The others, stimu-
lated by the example OF their elderly
companion, did the same, aud il was
soon evident that any one stopping
that coach would meet with warm
reception.
Barnaby had loosened the revolver
in his belt 10 be ready for instant &c.
ton, and gathering mp the reins he
cracked his whip over the leaders and
was of like rocket. Mile after mile
was trayersed nc almost break neck
speed. The night grew dark, and
shifting clouds so obscurcd the moons
surface as TO render that orb Of but
little value in distinguishing the trail.
They were now nearing the most dan
gerous place on the road, Murdock's
gap, about ten miles from SC. Louis,
and Just a head could be seen the dim
outline of a huge rock of sandstone,
such as Is often found In the hills Dor
| Iarsnu tho Nfacisatpni flats form In a.